Testimony
2 minute 10 second read
‘Now what can I do to become a follower of Christ?’ He gave his life to Christ and asked Solomon
if he could get baptised.
Nazan* first got in touch with Pioneers through our Arabic media ministry. After spending some time talking to our media responders online, he asked to meet someone in his country in the Middle East face to face. The media team put him in touch with Solomon*.
As Solomon answered Nazan’s questions about Christianity and studied the Bible with him, Nazan’s eyes were opened to the truth of the gospel. He was ready to renounce Islam, ‘I don’t believe in it anymore. Now what can I do to become a follower of Christ?’ He gave his life to Christ and asked Solomon if he could get baptised. Solomon was delighted; but he was intrigued as Nazan had one condition for his baptism. ‘I want to be baptised in the presence of my Muslim friend, Hamd*.’ Solomon said if Nazan was comfortable with having Hamd present at his baptism, he didn’t mind at all. He asked, ‘Do you trust him?’ Nazan responded, ‘I don’t really know, but I felt the urgency to be baptised in his presence.’
So, Solomon baptised Nazan and afterwards handed some Christian books to Hamd. He encouraged Hamd to read them despite his desire to remain a Muslim, saying to him, ‘It might be beneficial for you to read them, and it might open your eyes to something you’re not aware of.’ A week later, Hamd called Solomon. He had been reading the books and he had some questions. He asked Solomon, ‘Would I be able to meet with you face to face and discuss these questions?’ Solomon and Hamd began meeting together. Bit by bit, week by week, Hamd began to understand the Christian faith. Once again Solomon was asked the question, ‘What can I do to become a follower of Christ?’ Hamd prayed and gave his life to the Lord. He asked to be baptised, and once again Solomon faced an intriguing request, ‘Can I be baptised in the presence of my Muslim friend, Bilal*?’
You’ve changed my mind, changed my heart with the books you gave me. I want to meet with you.
Hamd was baptised by Solomon who then gave the same books he had given to Hamd to his friend Bilal. Bilal was happy as a Muslim and had no desire to convert to Christianity. But Solomon’s gentle encouragement led Bilal to read the books just as Hamd had. What happened to Nazan, and then Hamd, also happened with Bilal.
He called Solomon a couple of weeks later and said, ‘You’ve changed my mind, changed my heart with the books you gave me. I want to meet with you.’ They met and once again Solomon saw Scripture changing hearts. Bilal asked Solomon what he should do to become a follower of Christ. He prayed on the spot and gave his life to the Lord.
*Names changed to protect identities.
In this small group of believers in the Middle East we can see how the local church is growing, as believers make disciples who make disciples. Praise God for the way He worked in Nazan, Hamd and Bilal’s lives and for the boldness of Solomon, also a local Christian, to share his faith with those from the majority Muslim faith.
